|
Source:
MEMORIAL RECORD
of
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO
Containing Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of
the County
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States
Publ. Chicago
Record Publishing Company
1894
| |
WILSON B. SMITH. A
history of the development of Wayne Township, and so of
Butler County, would be incomplete without notice of
Mr. Smith, who has taken a leading part in
improving the agricultural resources of this section,
and who to-day is one of the most influential citizens
and enterprising farmers. In pushing forward the best
interests of the community he has been of great
assistance, and is a credit to his native county, where
he occupies a high place in the regard of the people.
Upon the old homestead where his father’s eyes had first
opened to the light of earth, the subject of this
biographical notice was born April 24, 1844.
Concerning his ancestry mention is made in the sketch of
Samuel Smith, elsewhere presented.
In boyhood he was the recipient of excellent educational
advantages, and after completing the studies of the
common schools he was for two years a student in Miami
University, Oxford. Fired with the zeal of youth
and patriotism, he enlisted during the late war as a
member of Company D, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio
Infantry, and served one hundred days, principally on
garrison duty in Virginia and West Virginia.
Returning home, he resumed his studies in the university
which he attended in 1866-67. He then entered Iron
City College, at Pittsburg, Pa., from which he was
graduated in the business department in 1868.
His studies completed, our subject, in company with his
uncle, Burns Wilson, visited Europe, journeying
through Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England and France.
He left New York on the day of the eclipse in 1869.
In the fall of 1870 he took a trip through the Western
States, and on his return to Ohio settled upon the farm
which he has since cultivated. June 11, 1873, he was
united in marriage with Anna J., daughter of
Alexander Patton, and at the time of her
marriage a resident of Bourbon County, near Millersburg,
Ky. They became the parents of five children, the
eldest of whom, Harry, is a student in the Ohio
Dental College, of Cincinnati; Jennie Mary died
when in her third year, in 1880; Lucile, aged
thirteen, and Ruby and Pearl (twins), aged
eleven, are with their parents, and carrying on their
studies in the public schools.
The popularity of Mr. Smith is proved by the
fact that in a township with a Democratic majority of
one hundred he was elected six successive years upon the
Republican ticket to the office of Trustee. He
then refused further re-election, although urged to
continue in office. He has never been a
politician, though such positions as he has accepted
have come to him unsought. For two years he was
President of the School Board, and for six years served
as Judge of Elections. A Presbyterian in religious
belief, he holds membership in the Presbyterian Church
of Seven Mile, in which he is Deacon and Trustee.
His wife is also identified with that denomination.
She is an estimable lady, a sincere Christian, and
esteemed for her many noble qualities of heart.
Through her paternal ancestors, the Pattons, and
her maternal forefathers, the Marshalls, she is
connected with some of the oldest and most honored
people of the Blue Grass State. Her grandfather
was an uncle of ex-Gov. William Marshall, of
Minnesota, and others of her relatives have become
widely and honorably known in public life.
The farm upon which our subject resides consists of two
hundred and forty-seven acres, of which one hundred and
eight acres belonged to the original tract purchased by
his grandfather. Besides the raising of cereals, he has
on his place the best grades of stock, and is making a
success of that department of agriculture.
Source: Memorial Record of Butler County, Ohio
- Publ. 1984 - Page 134 |
|
